Stanford University does not publish a university-wide TOEFL minimum. Each school and department sets its own English proficiency requirements — and several professional schools do not publish a formal minimum at all, relying on holistic evaluation instead.
Does Stanford Accept TOEFL?
Yes. Stanford University accepts TOEFL iBT across its graduate and professional schools. IELTS Academic is also accepted equally. Stanford does not express a preference between the two tests.
TOEFL MyBest Scores: Stanford does not accept TOEFL MyBest for most schools. Scores from a single valid sitting are required. Confirm with the specific programme's admissions page.
Stanford TOEFL Requirements by School
Stanford Undergraduate (Freshman and Transfer)
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formal TOEFL minimum | None stated |
| Competitive score | 110–120 |
| Notes | Essays and recommendations carry far more weight |
Stanford Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL | 89 iBT (most departments) |
| Per-section minimum | Writing 20, Speaking 20 |
| Competitive score | 107–120 |
| Notes | Humanities and Social Sciences typically expect 100+ |
Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) — MBA
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL | No formal minimum |
| Typical admitted score | 109–120 |
| Notes | Video essay and interview evaluate communication directly |
Stanford Law School (SLS)
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL | No formal minimum for JD |
| Competitive score | 115–120 |
| Notes | LLM applicants: 100+ expected |
Stanford School of Medicine
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL | 89 iBT |
| Per-section minimum | Speaking 26+ expected |
| Competitive score | 109–120 |
Stanford School of Engineering
| Programme | Minimum TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| MS/PhD Computer Science | 89 iBT | 107–120 |
| MS/PhD Electrical Engineering | 89 iBT | 107–120 |
| MS/PhD Mechanical Engineering | 89 iBT | 100–115 |
| Other Engineering Disciplines | 89 iBT | 100–115 |
Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE)
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL | 89 iBT |
| Competitive score | 100–115 |
Stanford TOEFL — Summary Table
| School / Programme | Min TOEFL | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | None | 110–120 |
| Graduate Arts and Sciences | 89 | 107–120 |
| Stanford GSB (MBA) | None | 109–120 |
| Stanford Law | None (JD) | 115–120 |
| School of Medicine | 89 | 109–120 |
| School of Engineering | 89 | 107–120 |
| School of Education | 89 | 100–115 |
Minimum vs. Competitive at Stanford
Stanford's graduate and professional programmes are among the world's most selective — acceptance rates of 3–8% in many programmes. The 89 iBT minimum is an administrative floor; competitive admitted students score significantly higher.
- Stanford GSB MBA: Non-native speakers typically score 109–120
- Stanford Law: The most competitive applicants score 115–120
- Engineering (CS, EE): 107–120 is typical despite the 89 minimum
- Arts and Sciences PhDs: 107–120 for competitive admitted students
Practical guidance: Target 100 at minimum; 109+ for any professional school application.
TOEFL Per-Section Strategy for Stanford
Writing (target 24–30)
Stanford's research and professional programmes are writing-intensive. The independent essay should demonstrate a clearly developed position with specific supporting examples. A Writing score below 22 is a material concern.
Target: Writing 24+ for all competitive programmes; 26+ for Law, Business, and humanities PhDs.
Speaking (target 26–30)
Stanford's GSB is discussion-based. Medicine requires patient communication. Law uses Socratic method. Speaking 26+ is the competitive standard.
Target: Speaking 26+ for Medicine, GSB, Law; 24+ minimum for all other programmes.
Reading and Listening (target 27–30)
At Stanford's competitive level, both sections should be in the high 20s.
TOEFL vs. IELTS for Stanford
Stanford accepts both equally. For most Stanford applicants, the choice is personal preference.
| Feature | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | Recorded responses | Live examiner |
| Scale | 0–120 | 0–9 |
| Results | 4–8 days | 3–5 days (online) |
| MyBest | Not accepted at most schools | N/A |
Score Validity at Stanford
TOEFL scores are valid for two years. Stanford requires scores to be valid at the time of application. Graduate deadlines typically fall in December.
How to Prepare for a Stanford-Level TOEFL Score
Writing (24–30): Use the 20-minute preparation time to plan your essay structure — introduction with clear thesis, two to three developed body paragraphs, brief conclusion. At 24+, every paragraph has a clear topic sentence and supporting example.
Speaking (26–30): Avoid memorised responses — they lower your score. Answer naturally, use specific examples, and stay within the time limit. Pace yourself.
Reading and Listening (27–30): At this level, practise inference and author-purpose questions specifically — these are where most high-scoring candidates lose points.
Common Mistakes Stanford TOEFL Applicants Make
Relying on the 89 minimum. The 89 minimum at Stanford GSE, Medicine, and Engineering is an administrative floor, not a competitive target. A 90 alongside a strong application still signals language may be a limitation.
Not checking MyBest policy. Most Stanford schools require a single-sitting score. Submitting a superscored TOEFL will result in an invalid application at these schools.
Underscoring on Speaking. The GSB's discussion-based format and Medicine's clinical requirements make Speaking the most scrutinised section for these programmes.
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